ArkansasVarsity.com Publisher Luke Matheson gives his take on the best of the best in the Natural State from the 2000's. These young me were some of the best of the best to grace Arkansas high school football fields on Friday nights this past decade. With that being said, come inside for the...[details]

2008 (Senior): The 2007 Rimington Trophy award winner as the nation’s top center and a consensus All-American, Luigs is looking to become the first two-time winner of the Rimington Trophy in the award’s history. He has started all 37 games of his Razorback career. Last year, he helped Arkansas’ line pave the way for an SEC-leading and school-record 3,725 rushing yards, an average of 286.5 yards per game, which was fourth in the nation. Arkansas also generated a school-record 5,850 yards of total offense and scored a school-record 485 points. The point total ranked No. 13 in the nation with 37.3 per game and the total offense average of 450.0 ranked No. 17. A 2008 pre-season All-American, Luigs is a big reason the offensive line is once again expected to be one of the team’s strengths.

2007 (Junior): The Rimington Award winner as the nation’s top center, he was a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, FWAA, The Sporting News, Rivals, CBSSports.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele College Football. Luigs was the first Razorback center to win a national individual award. Also an AP second-team All-American, he won the Jacobs Trophy (along with Alabama’s Andre Smith) as the top blockers in the SEC. Luigs was the centerpiece of an offensive line that helped Arkansas lead the SEC and rank fourth in the nation in rushing (286.5), rank second in the SEC and No. 17 in the nation in total offense (450.0), and rank third in the SEC and No. 13 in the country in scoring (37.3). He cleared the way for two All-American running backs – Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, who led the SEC and ranked fourth in the nation in rushing (140.8), and Felix Jones, who ranked fifth in the SEC and No. 43 in the country (89.4). He had a team-leading overall grade of 90.36 for the season, including marks of 86.0 on running plays and a team-best 96.9 on passing plays. He also had 55 knockdown blocks, which ranked second on the team. – In the opener against Troy, he earned two knockdown blocks and was a key component to the Hogs’ 350-yard rushing output. McFadden (151) and Jones (129) each eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark. He garnered a grade of 84 percent on running plays and 90 percent on passing plays for a total overall grade of 86 percent with three knockdowns. He logged all 78 snaps in Arkansas’ road loss at Alabama. He graded out at a team-high 89 percent, including 84 percent on running plays and a perfect 100 percent on passing plays. He tallied four knockdowns against the Crimson Tide while the Razorbacks racked up 301 yards rushing, including 195 by McFadden and 95 by Jones. Luigs played 76 snaps at center in Arkansas’ loss to No. 21 Kentucky. He left the game briefly (two snaps) due to an injury, but returned to play the rest of the way. He carded a team-high grade of 93 percent, including a perfect 100-percent grade in pass blocking. He netted a grade of 89 percent in run blocking. He tallied four knockdowns against the Wildcats in paving the way for 495 yards of total offense, including 338 yards rushing. McFadden (173) and Jones (133) each topped the 100-yard rushing mark. He played 59 snaps against North Texas, earning an overall grade of 86 with a 95 on passing plays and 81 on rushes with five knockdowns. Luigs and his offensive line mates were at it again in a non-conference win over Chattanooga. Arkansas racked up 373 yards of total offense, including 257 yards rushing. Both Jones (141) and McFadden (122) rushed for more than 100 yards. Luigs played 68 snaps and earned a team-high six knockdown blocks. He graded out at 91 percent against the Mocs, including an 85-percent clip in run blocking and a perfect 100-percent clip in pass blocking. Luigs earned a 90-percent grade and racked up a team-high tying four knockdowns against No. 22 Auburn. He recorded a perfect 100-percent grade in pass protection against the Tigers. Luigs played all 54 offensive snaps against Auburn and earned Hogwired.com Offensive Player of the Week honors. He graded out at a team-high 90 percent with two knockdowns in Arkansas’ 44-8 win at Ole Miss. For his efforts, he was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Luigs earned an 88-percent grade on run blocking and a 94-percent clip on pass blocking against the Rebels on 62 snaps. Luigs and his offensive line teammates led the way for Arkansas’ 437 yards of total offense, including 293 yards rushing. McFadden (110) and Jones (101) each ran for more than 100 yards in the win. Luigs tied for the top grade among UA offensive line starters with a 93-percent clip in Arkansas’ 58-10 win over Florida International. He recorded a perfect 100-percent grade in pass blocking while turning in an 88-percent outing in run blocking. Luigs tallied four knockdowns against the Panthers in clearing the way for 439 yards of total offense, including 249 yards rushing, six rushing touchdowns and one passing score. Luigs was outstanding in paving the way for one of the most prolific rushing performances in NCAA history in Arkansas’ upset of No. 23 South Carolina. The Razorbacks racked up 542 yards rushing, including an SEC record-tying 321 yards by McFadden and a career-high 166 yards by Jones. The combined 487 yards by McFadden and Jones set a new NCAA record for rushing yards by teammates. The team rushing total is the second-most in UA history and the most team rushing yards by an SEC team in a conference game in league history. Luigs tallied an overall grade of 94 percent, including 92 percent on running plays and a perfect 100 percent on passing plays. He also earned five knockdown blocks. Luigs played all 68 snaps against the Gamecocks. Luigs graded out at 89 percent, including 84 percent in run blocking and 93 percent in pass blocking, against No. 22 Tennessee. He played all 65 snaps against the Volunteers and cleared the way for 117 rushing yards by McFadden. Luigs racked up a season-high eight knockdowns and posted a 93-percent grade in Arkansas’ 45-31 win over Mississippi State. He played all 62 snaps against the Bulldogs and carded a season-high grade of 93 percent on running plays and a grade of 94 percent on passing plays. Luigs played one of the best games of his Razorback career in Arkansas’ 50-48 upset of No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge in the regular season finale. He captained an offensive front that cleared the way for 513 yards of total offense, including 385 yards rushing. LSU entered the game ranked first in the nation in total defense, allowing only 246.8 yards per game, and ranking first in the SEC and third in the nation by yielding an average of 72.0 yards per game rushing. Luigs and his teammates didn’t yield a sack in the game. He was perfect on 33 shotgun snaps in the WildHog formation to Darren McFadden and helped the junior rush for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He tallied six knockdown blocks against the Tigers. Luigs took the field as the 2007 Rimington Trophy winner to lead Arkansas against No. 7 Missouri in the 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. He blocked for another 100-yard effort from McFadden in the tailback’s final game as a Razorback. The Doak Walker Award winner earned 105 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries. Luigs tallied four knockdowns against the Tigers.

2006 (Sophomore): Luigs established himself as one of the top centers in the nation with a standout sophomore campaign at the heart of the Razorbacks’ offensive line. He was one of six finalists for the Rimington Award, presented annually to the nation’s best center. Luigs was the only sophomore and one of just two underclassmen (the other was a junior) among the finalists for the prestigious honor. He earned third-team All-America honors from The Associated press and first-team sophomore All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com. He earned first-team All-SEC honors from league coaches and The Associated Press after helping the Razorbacks lead the SEC and rank fourth in the nation with 228.5 rushing yards per game. In addition for only the third time in SEC history and the 38th time in NCAA history, Arkansas featured two 1,000-yard running backs (Darren McFadden – 1,647, Felix Jones – 1,168) on the same team. McFadden finished the season 10th in the NCAA in rushing yardage (117.6 ypg) and captured the 2006 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s best running back. McFadden also finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up as a sophomore. Luigs also was at the center of an offensive front that cleared the way for 13 100-yard rushing performances in 14 games and allowed only nine sacks in 14 games (0.64) to rank second nationally in fewest sacks allowed. He graded out at a team-high 89.7 percent, including team-best clips of 85.1 percent in run blocking and 97.1 percent in pass blocking. He recorded a perfect 100-percent clip in pass blocking in six games (Vanderbilt, Alabama, SEMO, ULM, Tennessee and Florida). He tallied 34 knockdowns on the season including seven outings of three or more knockdown blocks. – Luigs started the season opener against No. 3 USC at center. He graded out at a team-high 94 percent including grades of 91 percent and 97 percent, respectively, on running and passing plays. He tallied one knockdown against the Trojans. He carded a grade of 81 percent including a 95-percent clip on pass plays in a UA win over Utah State. He recorded three knockdowns in the non-conference victory and helped the Hogs rack up 279 yards rushing including 184 from Darren McFadden. He played all 58 offensive snaps in the Razorbacks’ win over Vanderbilt. He posted a perfect 100-percent grade in pass blocking and finished with a total grade of 82 percent. He racked up three knockdown blocks against the Commodores. Luigs played what Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt called his “best game as a Razorback” in Arkansas’ double-overtime win over No. 22 Alabama. He earned Hogwired.com Offensive Player of the Week honors after tallying a grade of 94 percent (90 run, 100 pass) against the Crimson Tide. It was the second-consecutive perfect grade for Luigs in the passing game. He also tallied two knockdown blocks and carded a team-best five (of five) rating while clearing the way for 172 yards rushing. He was superb for the second-consecutive game playing all 56 offensive snaps paving the way for the Razorbacks’ 27-10 upset of No. 2 Auburn. Luigs earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance. He graded out at a team-high 94 percent and earned a five rating against the Tigers. He carded a 95-percent clip on running plays and a 90-percent grade on passing plays. He tallied a team-high five knockdowns while clearing the way for 279 yards rushing including a pair of 100-yard rushers (McFadden and Felix Jones). Luigs scored a grade of 92 percent on 28 snaps in the Hogs’ win over Southeast Missouri State. He tallied an 85-percent grade on running plays and a perfect 100-percent mark on passing plays against the Redhawks. He tallied three knockdowns in helping the Hogs rush for 381 yards and earn two 100-yard rushers (Michael Smith and Jones). He tallied a grade of 91 percent (90 run, 94 pass) in the Razorbacks’ 38-3 win over Ole Miss. He played 47 snaps and earned three knockdown blocks against the Rebels. He was solid on 47 snaps in the Razorbacks’ win over Louisiana-Monroe. He helped the Hogs rack up 331 yards rushing including two 100-yard rushing performances (Jones and McFadden). He tallied a grade of 91 percent (86 run, 100 pass) against the Warhawks. The 100-percent pass grade was the fourth perfect clip on pass blocking on the season. Luigs was the anchor of a Razorbacks’ offensive front that cleared the way for a 219-yard rushing performance by McFadden in Arkansas’ 26-20 win over South Carolina. He recorded four knockdowns against the Gamecocks. He logged 65 snaps in Arkansas’ 31-14 win over No. 13 Tennessee. Luigs earned a 91-percent clip on rushing plays and a perfect 100-percent grade on passing plays. He tallied an overall grade of 93 percent, but didn’t earn a knockdown. Arkansas racked up 425 yards of total offense, including 259 yards rushing, against the Volunteers. The Hogs didn’t allow a sack in the win. Luigs was solid in Arkansas’ 28-14 win over Mississippi State. He tallied three knockdown blocks against the Bulldogs. In addition, Arkansas’ offensive front didn’t allow a sack for the fourth-consecutive game. He played all 61 snaps against No. 9 LSU and helped the Hogs rack up 298 yards rushing including 182 by McFadden and 137 by Jones. He tallied a 95-percent grade on pass blocking and one knockdown block against the Tigers. Luigs recorded a team-high grade of 85 percent, including a perfect 100-percent clip in pass blocking against No. 4 Florida in the SEC Championship Game. He tallied two knockdown blocks against the Gators. Luigs added two more knockdowns to his total and helped lead the way for 232 yards on the ground against No. 7 Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl. He helped Jones rack up a career-high 150 yards rushing against the Badgers.

2005 (Freshman): It didn’t take long for the redshirt freshman to become an integral part of the UA offensive front. When Robert Felton moved from right guard to right tackle to take over after Zac Tubbs suffered a serious high-ankle sprain, he filled the void at right guard. At two points during the season, he moved down one spot to play center for an ailing Kyle Roper. He filled in admirably, helping Arkansas rack up 216.9 yards rushing per game to lead the SEC and rank 12th nationally. The Hogs boasted a total of 10 100-yard rushing performances on the season, including five 100-yard efforts from SEC Freshman of the Year Darren McFadden. McFadden rushed for 1,113 yards behind the Hogs’ offensive front. The offensive guard/center graded out at 84 percent or better on pass blocking in nine of 10 games he played. He ranked second on the line with a season pass blocking average of 92.2 percent. He posted the line’s best rush block season average at 82.5 percent. He started seven games at right guard and three games at center. He had 53 knockdown blocks in 10 games played, an average of 5.3 per game that ranked second on the team. He led the squad in knockdown blocks three times. He was named a freshman All-American by ESPN.com and the Football Writers Association of America, a second-team selection by CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com, and an honorable mention choice by The Sporting News. He was also named to the coaches SEC All-Freshman team. – He earned the opening day start at right guard in the Hogs’ win over Missouri State. He recorded eight knockdown blocks and graded out at 86 percent against the Bears as Arkansas ran for 483 yards. He played 74 snaps against Vanderbilt and graded out at 90 percent with seven knockdown blocks. He suffered a high-ankle sprain early in the first quarter against No. 1 USC and missed the Alabama game while trying to get healthy. When he returned, he started at center for Roper against Louisiana-Monroe. He graded out at 90 percent in his first start at center, recording six knockdown blocks in 52 snaps. He returned to right guard against Auburn and graded out at 91 percent on 58 snaps with a team-best five knockdown blocks. He played well at Georgia with a team and career-high 11 knockdown blocks as the Razorbacks reeled off 216 yards rushing against the Bulldogs. He graded out at 88 percent in 72 snaps in the near-upset of No. 4 Georgia. He continued his impressive play against South Carolina with a team-high eight knockdown blocks. He graded out at 84 percent on 73 snaps as the Hogs rushed for 219 yards against the Gamecocks. He started the Ole Miss game at right guard, but was forced to move to center after Roper left early in the game with an injured knee. He logged 62 snaps, earning one knockdown block and an 80-percent grade on pass blocking. In his second start of the season at center, he graded out at 91 percent (89 running, 93 passing) to help lead the Razorbacks to a win against Mississippi State. He recorded two knockdown blocks against the Bulldogs. He racked up five knockdown blocks in the season finale against LSU.

2004 (Redshirt): He came to Arkansas as an offensive guard, but also spent time at center on the scout team offense during his redshirt season.

Personal: Born Aug. 11, 1986, he is the son of Gary and Yvonne Luigs. He is enrolled in the College of Engineering and is majoring in transportation and logistics. Luigs was named a Hard Working Hog for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years. He was also named to the Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll for the 2004-05 academic year and for Fall 2006.

High School: He was a three-year starter on the offensive line for Coach Kevin Kelley. He started at both center and offensive tackle as well as playing defensive end. He graded out at 90 percent or more in blocking in each of his three varsity seasons. He capped his prep career by helping his squad win its first state championship (3A) in school history with a 13-2 mark. He was named to The Associated Press Arkansas Super Team and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team as senior and the all-metro squad as a junior. He racked up 77 tackles, including 26 solo stops, in his junior campaign. He also earned four sacks, three more tackles for loss (-30) and two quarterback hurries. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He also was the 2003 recipient of the Brandon Burlsworth Award, named after the former Razorback All-American offensive guard. SuperPrep had him rated as the No. 12 prospect in Arkansas while The Morning News had him at No. 14. He was also recruited by LSU, Memphis, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas State and Nebraska.

The Good: A smooth, coordinated athlete in space who plays with good technique and hand placement inside. Snaps and steps very quickly and showcases the foot speed to get around on reach blocks and seal run lanes inside. A fluid lateral athlete who breaks down well at the second level and displays the ability to eliminate a moving target.The Bad: Lacks natural strength and is unable to overpower defensive linemen at the point of attack. Not a real Velcro player; struggles staying on blockers through the entire play. Needs to trust his technique and athleticism.